Shannon Putman: Hello and welcome everybody to another fantastic episode of Putin's podcast Pops.
I am so excited to be here with Marco, the head of VR experts for the us.
Now you'll notice I did not say his last name.
That's because I did not wanna butcher it, so I'm going to allow him to fully introduce himself.
Marco, thank you for being here with me today.
Marco Janmaat: Yes.
Thank you Shannon.
Happy to be here.
Shannon Putman (2): Great.
Great.
Now, a lot of people might not know, okay, what, you know, VR expert, what does that even mean?
Why is this guy here?
Why is it important for me to listen to him?
Could you kind of just let everybody know a little bit about what VR Expert does?
Marco Janmaat: Okay.
Yeah.
So VR expert is, which we call a value added reseller.
So we help organizations like schools and universities, but also larger enterprises.
With yeah.
Integrating virtuality into their processes and systems.
So in the simplest form you could see that we sell virtual reality headsets like Metas and Picos and HCCs.
And around that we provide services like installing the headsets or being the support desk in case of issues.
We are ready to go flight cases.
Yeah, that's a little bit what we do here and we've been doing that last.
Six years in Europe and recently around a year ago we started here in the us.
Shannon Putman (2): Nice.
So when you say, you know, provide access to headsets and everything, so if I'm a teacher and I wanted to go to get 30 headsets, I can't just go to Best Buy and get them, or do I need to actually talk to somebody who's a reseller?
I.
Marco Janmaat: Now I think the answer to that is two folded.
So I think if you go on for like.
Your first explorations buying maybe one or two headsets, probably Walmart.
Walmart or Best Buy are a good choice.
And I think it always starts with like playing and using and trying.
But once you start thinking about deploying a little bit larger skills, yeah.
You say, Hey, we're really, we really want to do dirty headsets in a classroom.
In that case, a re-seller like us has a lot of value.
Because you would have to think of things like charging.
How do you do that?
Do you, are you gonna line up 30 cables?
You have to think of things like hygiene.
So, yeah, all these people use the headset, they get sweaty they wear makeup.
How can we tackle that kind of problem?
You have to think about how.
The teacher, for example, would manage the classroom in a sense of how do we make sure that the right application starts?
Yeah, I think if you in that case, a reseller like us can really help you and guide you through that process, making sure you make the right decisions and in the end deliver you a complete package.
Which really then it becomes more of a solution that helps you getting VR to work instead of.
30 separate headsets.
Shannon Putman (2): Absolutely.
I love how you, you said that it is a solution because people that are new, you know, to the industry, they might have seen a commercial for a thing here or there, or you know, maybe tried Google Expeditions back in the day, and so I don't think they realize how far the technology has advanced and all of the different options that are currently out there.
Marco Janmaat: Yeah.
Like I, I think also.
Right.
We're still working with quite new technology and if you see how far VR has progressed the last five years, I remember at my first HS, E five, which was, it took me like an hour to set everything up.
Now that's already became much better.
If you can see what's right now in a peak of four Ultra or MedQuest three that's amazing.
Like that we already been able to back up such a compact device, but yeah, there's always still a barrier between.
Yeah, getting these, you can have great technology but to getting it actually to work for you and to make sure that you can actually use it in a classroom, I think that is a gap where we're trying to help.
Shannon Putman (2): And one of those barriers that I always saw and that I tend to focus on is the fact that the technology has to come pretty much ready to go right out of the box.
Especially.
'cause if it's new technology and then you have to do all this setup and everything, it can be incredibly overwhelming.
So how do you guys help support educators that are like, look, I just need it.
I need this, and this.
What do I do?
Marco Janmaat: Yeah, so like I think there are yeah, there are two components to, or three components to we, which we help in.
So first is around the provisioning of the headset.
So, if you get a headset like from Walmart or like the moment you kind of.
I'm back at first headset your headset for the first time.
It can be quite a lengthy process to do that for 30 or 40 headsets and to then make sure that all the apps are on there.
Now what we do is to kind of that once you receive it, the only thing you have to do is just turn it on and you should be ready to go.
So that's a part we do.
And then the second part we do is more focused around support.
So.
Yeah, we're quite well known with the fact that maybe the school wifi changed at one point or you can't get your your controller to work.
Yeah.
And then sometimes it's the battery, which you have to swap or yeah.
These kind of things we help out and to make sure that all goes all smooth.
And the last thing we can help with is normally yeah, more like trainings.
So.
In the end, you need also within the organizations and within schools and bigger companies, you need people who are kind of the advocate for the, for this new technology, who drive it, who are enthusiastic, who help their colleagues, again, learn about the technology.
Now we do a lot of train the trainers, or we make sure that they are, yeah, they have all the tools and all the information they need to do that.
Shannon Putman (2): It's funny that you said the school network changes 'cause Yeah.
None of us have ever had issues with the technology working what it's supposed to, or in the schools.
'cause you know, they build them out of thick cinder blocks, which is so great for wifi and reception.
I love that they did that.
Marco Janmaat: I have this joke, I think whenever like I have to shelter somewhere at school is probably a very good choice.
'cause of the yeah, the reception in school is still in a lot of cases 'cause of the thick walls very bad.
So switching to hotspot is probably not the solution you want to use.
You need to indeed be on the school wifi
Shannon Putman (2): it is.
And it's true.
I mean, there's a reason our tornado drills we get down in the hallway because, you know, it it that those thick walls are gonna be protective.
So.
Marco Janmaat: Yeah.
Shannon Putman (2): Yeah.
No, I appreciate that.
Definitely.
I like it for that aspect.
I love to be safe, don't get me wrong.
And as somebody who's been in the industry now for a little bit and seen some trends and things like that, is there anything, you know, as the technology's developing that you're particularly kinda hearing about or that you're excited to see where it can go and how people can use it?
Marco Janmaat: So for me, what is an exciting trend like, which I think is a bigger shift of kind of last years is the BA technology.
So what you're right now seeing a PICO four ULTRA and a Met Quest three tree is the fact that you can just really see your own room and that within that you, you can see all kinds of animations and 3D environments pop up.
I find that personally very interesting.
Development 'cause it unlocks new use cases.
Of course, originally we had VR headsets, which kind of locked you out of reality.
You have to put them on in your alone, or we had very expensive augmented reality headsets which were HoloLens and magic leaps.
And these would give you the possibilities to show holograms in the real environment.
And recently, since the Quests three, being one of the first, but also the PIKA four Ultra yeah, you can see that right now we can actually kind of achieve what an AR glass used to do with the pass through technology.
But then for a device of six, $700, so cuts off the price of that technology is only two five which I think is great and.
I've so for example, I've had a home I play 11 table tennis, which is a fantastic game, I think.
But it's amazing to just put in my living room a table tennis and just start playing against friends and still being part of the environment.
I can just still talk to my girlfriend and just kind of play.
I think that, and I think that also that has a lot of opportunities for education and for enterprise.
And so,
Shannon Putman (2): I love that you brought that up too, because a lot of people fear that, you know, especially in education when we put the kids in the headset, they're just gonna be isolated and in their own world and kind of cut off now from everybody else and things being done in isolation and I love the pa the pass through as well.
That's one of.
My things I'm most excited about too.
But like you said, you can still, you know, be a part of the party, but you now have access to all these things without having to go buy a ping pong table and buy rackets and everything else and everybody gets to enjoy in it.
Marco Janmaat: Yeah, no, like I, I would never be able to have a table tennis in my house, like, would not be in the options for me.
So right now, and that's kind of possible with with the mixed reality
Shannon Putman (2): we're gonna have to get together.
We're gonna have to have a little, a tournament of champions or something.
Marco Janmaat: Yeah.
We should do that.
Like I, I am I'm always open for a table tennis challenge, so
Shannon Putman (2): We'll have to bring you guys on down to Kentucky sometime when it's not, you know, freezing and raining all the time.
Maybe the Derby.
That'd be super fun.
Marco Janmaat: that would be cool.
Shannon Putman (2): Yeah.
Well, awesome, Marco.
Thank you so much.
I truly appreciate it.
You know, I, when I started this podcast, I wanted to kind of just do anything, you know, ed tech, you know, educational and you've provided a different insight that I really wanted to share and I think needs to be heard.
And so I appreciate you taking the time to come talk with us and share about what VR Expert can do.
You know, besides you know.
Working with Putman Consulting and our, you know, product bundles and everything.
If somebody wanted to, you know, just reach out and find out, you know, some more about VR expert.
I'm, I'll post the link and stuff too, but is there any place that you recommend they go to, to check out, to see what you guys provide?
Marco Janmaat: Yeah, so the starting point could be vr expert.com with a dash between VR and expert.
Or they could con contact me at marco@vrexpert.com.
And yeah we're, we are helping small and big organizations.
So, if you're looking for one headset, then you're at the start of your discovery, like, Hey, which app could be relevant for me?
Then we have a team that's ready here to show you all the options, or if you're looking for a little bit larger deployments and you need logistical and distribution services to make sure that each of your employees or each of your learning centers receives the headset in the correct way.
I think that's where we are well suited to help.
Shannon Putman (2): That was a critical point that you just said too, and thank you for that.
I think.
People are also intimidated because they're, you know, 'cause of budget.
We all know, you know, you gotta have money to get new stuff and technology.
And they think, you know, I don't have a very big budget.
I could only get like one headset, it's not even worth it.
And you're like, no, actually it is, it's okay to have a small budget and to just start with one.
And so.
Appreciating that and understanding to not be intimidated, that you don't have to start out with some, you know, massive deployment to get going and that you guys can support them no matter what.
Marco Janmaat: yeah.
Like.
It sounds, it's also part why I really love being to work in this industry.
I think like, you know, working with new technology and of course budget has a big impact.
You know, even if you buy one headset, it always starts with kind of like.
A dream or a vision or some hope of doing something in a more fun or more interactive or a different way than you used to do it.
And I think that's also yeah, for example to work with you for example.
Like you've been such a dreamer and such a, trying to kind of change the space and like trying to push and yeah, innovation is always.
Difficult, and it has rough edges.
And indeed budget is a thing, but I would like recommend everybody like yeah, just, yeah, you gotta start somewhere.
Just, you know, get a headset, try things out.
The technology is really amazing.
I still remember the first time I had a VR headset on.
So yeah, like big or small, I would always recommend to just, yeah.
Get started.
I think that's the best advice.
Shannon Putman (2): Just go for it.
Exactly.
Well, you are not gonna get away from it, but I always like to finish out with the closing countdown.
That's where I ask you for your top three random things.
You're lucky the.
I already asked the top three elements from the periodic table, so you're not gonna get that one.
But for you, I am curious if you, for three bucket list items that you still want to do.
So this could be travel, it could be an experience, whatever, any three items that are still on your bucket list.
Marco Janmaat: Okay.
Yeah, so I just there's a lot of us stuff for me there.
'cause I just moved a year ago to the us so that's so, first bucket list item is I still really want to go to the Everglades.
I've never been.
So, I'm really excited about.
It's an easy bucket list, but I think that, uh.
Accounts for something.
The second one is a very difficult one, which is on my bucket list.
I still have to dream to one day maybe go to space.
I wanna see if I can pass the orbit, like, go like, I don't know which shape, form, or if it ever will be possible.
And I don't have to say for days, just a little bit is enough.
Shannon Putman (2): Okay.
Marco Janmaat: but that one is definitely on the list.
Yeah.
And yeah, that, that's, it's also very different, but, and the Super Bowl, I one day I would like to I don't know, give me a little corner seat somewhere squeezed in.
I'm completely fine, but I would like one day like to experience that.
Shannon Putman (2): I love that.
That's fantastic.
Thank you.
Yes, I agree.
Absolutely.
Super Bowl.
Hopefully it will be with the Bills in it, go Bills.
And I will join you with there for that one.
And as, as somebody who did her undergrad in Florida and and have been on Alligator Alley and been to the Everglades, it is fantastic and I think that's awesome.
And I've had never had anybody say that one to me.
So good for you.
Just be careful.
You know, if there's, we always used to say in Florida, if if there's water and it's wet, then there's probably a gator.
So make sure you're
Marco Janmaat: Okay.
I'll remember.
That's a good one.
I'll remember that one.
Shannon Putman (2): Even at Disney World too.
So, you gotta be careful everywhere, but.
Well, Marco, seriously, again, thank you so much.
This has been a lovely time and I always love chatting with you and I, I thank you for being a fantastic colleague, but even more importantly, a wonderful friend.
And you've been so supportive of me and Putman XR Consulting, and as I've stumbled through this whole phase of trying to be a business owner and everything you've been there for me and I couldn't be more grateful.
So, so thank you for everything and.
I look forward to multiple more multiple more.
I look forward to more conversations and more VR across everywhere.
Marco Janmaat: Yeah, no.
Yeah.
And yeah, I would like to yeah, to thank you.
I think you're exactly what the industry needs more of pushing so much like working so on the ground with teachers being so involved actually in the classrooms and actually yeah, sometimes.
Even including me, like we're too much time in the office, I would say behind our computers and the amount of time I call you and you're at the schools and you're actually there with the teachers.
I think that's that's amazing.
And that's also like why I like this industry that much.
Like, to see how active you are and like getting people to work with this technology.
'cause it has so much potential that yeah, it's been amazing to work with you so far.
So like, I, the thanks is on me.
Shannon Putman (2): Oh, well, thank you.
If I wasn't already super red, for some odd reason, I would still be blushing even more.
Again, thank you so much.
I appreciate it.